INCOTEC and Ball Horticultural Company have agreed on the sale of Flower Seed Technology in Hem (the Netherlands) to INCOTEC effective October 1st, 2005. Incotec will take over all activities of Flower Seed Technology maintaining the high level of customer service and product quality to which its customers have become accustomed.

Ball Horticultural Company will continue to service its existing customers trough its Seed Technology Services division in West Chicago.

Separately, INCOTEC and Ball may explore areas of collaboration based on a strong partnership.

Jack Metzelaar, General Manager of Ball Holland, “We will continue to work closely with INCOTEC in order to continue to sell high quality seed to its customers while exploring the possibility to have access to high level seed technology in the future”.

JanWillem Breukink, CEO and President of INCOTEC Holding BV,  “We are pleased with this acquisition as this fits very well in the long term strategy of Incotec to remain a dominant player in seed and coating technologies for vegetables, flowers and agricultural crops”.

Steve Cull, Director of Seed Operations, “With this transaction, Ball Horticultural Company will concentrate on servicing flower seed companies and growers from its West Chicago facility, and we are confident that the high standards set by Flower Seed Technology will be maintained by INCOTEC”.

INCOTEC is the leading seed technologies service provider in vegetable and flower seed.

Ball Horticultural Company is leading producer and distributor of flower seed and ornamental young plants to growers in all major global markets.